Golf Practise Net Designers Win Design Award

A Leek-based golf company run by two ex-engineers and a tiler has chipped its way into the record books by holing in one for a new prize.

The Staffordshire University sponsored Design Excellence award has been won by Rotanet which has been driving hard for success with a unique retractable golf practise net.

The new company already has the support of leading golf professionals including the 1999 Ryder Cup captain Mark James and top women’s player Alison Nicholas of Birmingham who won the 1997 US Open Championship.

The practise net, developed by Rotanet at Leek’s Townyard Business Park, is designed to be used in gardens and takes two minutes to set up. When retracted it takes up no more space than a rotary washing line.

Richard Mason with the award certificate, Bob Boulton with the Staffordshire University sponsored award and Mick Boulton celebrating.

Partners Bob Boulton and Richard Mason are former engineers who previously worked together in the animal feed industry for many years, while Mick Boulton is a time-served tiler by trade.

The brand new Staffordshire University sponsored award is for the company with a consumer product that exhibits design excellence. An innovative product which has visual appeal, is comfortable to use, economic to manufacture and makes a significant contribution to business success.

The criteria stressed by the university included innovation, creativity and application of good design.

Said Bob: "We are thrilled to be first-time winners of this award which clearly recognises the amount of development that has gone into producing a quality product that can benefit so many people with an interest in the game of golf.

"We are already exporting to 20 countries in five continents and looking to export Rotanet to many more countries in the next 12 months.

"We are confident that the Staffordshire University sponsored design excellence award will set the seal on the product which we know is unique anywhere in the world".